New research from Qualtrics shows that workers in the UK cite their job as the source of many of their mental health obstacles.
According to the findings, 69% of respondents said they felt like the lines between their work and home life have blurred, and 55% stated they would much rather have the choice of their daily work schedule compared to just 14% wanting a choice in work location.
Although the ability to work from wherever is enticing, employees seem to prefer having flexibility in their daily schedule to fit their everyday needs, such as going to doctor’s appointments or taking care of their children.
In fact, 79% of UK respondents said they want to control their schedules, while having their job performance measured by results.
In terms of how this could be accomplished, 83% said they think a four-day work week would improve their mental health, while 88% said having paid mental health days could contribute to a better workplace experience.
Additionally, 55% of workers said they worry about their pay and career progression opportunities due to flexible work.
“Flexibility has become a buzzword as employees have embraced new styles of working during the pandemic. But it’s important to look deeper at what flexibility really means,“ said Benjamin Granger, head of employee experience advisory services at Qualtrics. “As work and home life have become increasingly connected — and employees continue juggling childcare responsibilities and caretaking needs for themselves and sick family members — they’re asking for flexible schedules that fit better with the demands of their lives.”
